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Canada announces a new partnership with the Canadian Red Cross to enhance humanitarian assistance

Canada announces a new partnership with the Canadian Red Cross to enhance humanitarian assistance

June 23, 2012 - Today, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda announced a new strategic partnership with the Canadian Red Cross that will improve Canada's ability to respond effectively and efficiently to humanitarian disasters.

"For more than a century, the Canadian Red Cross has earned the trust of Canadians to be there in times of need for families and communities in the aftermath of a crisis," said Minister Oda. "We are proud that the Canadian Red Cross has also been a strong partner of the government in its international development and humanitarian work for more than 40 years."

Minister Oda announced the partnership today while attending the Canadian Red Cross's Annual General Meeting, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer Conrad Sauvé.

"The Canadian Red Cross is an effective channel for Canadians to express care for their neighbours and people around the world," Mr. Sauvé said. "We welcome this strategic partnership since it strengthens the abilities of both the Canadian Red Cross and CIDA to support vulnerable communities and respond to emergency situations where lives are at stake."

The partnership between CIDA and the Canadian Red Cross aims to strengthen national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in developing countries so that they are better able to respond to disasters and conflict, improve Canada's ability to respond quickly and efficiently to humanitarian crises, and increase public awareness of Canadian humanitarian efforts.

"Through this strategic partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, Canada will help strengthen local societies in targeted countries and improve the international humanitarian response capacity," Minister Oda said.

The Canadian Red Cross is one of 187 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies that are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the largest humanitarian network in the world. CIDA and the Canadian Red Cross have successfully collaborated for more than 40 years, improving the lives of the vulnerable and meeting the basic human needs of emergency-affected populations around the world.